BRITONS are facing a wasp invasion due to the record-breaking heatwave this summer. The soaring temperatures have created the perfect environment for insects to thrive and multiply.

Britain faces a huge growth in wasps due to the heatwave (Image: GETTY)

This was demonstrated though figures released today - by Rentokil Pest Control - which saw a 369 per cent rise in wasp-related enquiries in July this year, compared to the same period in 2017.

David Cross, Rentokil's head of the technical training academy, said: “The hotter weather has caused wasps to venture out more, which lowers the mortality rate inside the nest, meaning more people will come into contact with them.

"In cooler summers, wasps stay inside their homes and generate more moisture, leading to an increased risk of fungal infections in the insects that cause some to die of natural causes.”

Mr Cross advised householders to be careful with how they dispose litter, particularly food waste.

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With an average temperature of 17.2C (62.9F), last month was the third hottest July recorded in the UK, behind 2006 and 1983. Faversham in Kent saw the highest UK July temperature this year, when the barometer reached a sweltering 35.3C (95.5F).

Rentokil said the hot weather had also resulted in more fly-related enquiries - which were up 20 per cent this July, compared to 2017.

Mr Cross said: “The lifecycle of a fly is sped up in warmer weather.

“House flies will lay between 500 and 900 eggs usually in batches of 100 to 150.

“Development from egg to adult can take as little as seven days in 30C heat and when they reach adulthood they will breed almost immediately.”

There was also an increase in ants, with call-outs to Rentokil increasing by 148 per cent from March to April due to the unusually mild spring.